The Queen’s Baton Relay is an international event that precedes the Commonwealth Games, with the arrival of the baton in the host city of the games marking the official beginning of the competition.

For the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, a silver baton carved by First Nations artists in the shape of a grizzly bear’s thigh bone began its journey of Commonwealth nations in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace. Once the baton finally arrived in Canada, the Pace Group was responsible for the relay’s final leg.

The cross-Canada relay was sponsored by BC Hydro and Canada’s other electric utilities and began with the baton being dipped into the Atlantic Ocean where Terry Fox dipped his leg as he started his Marathon of Hope in Newfoundland more than a decade earlier.

From there, the baton traveled by plane, train, bike, runner, war canoe, dog sled, and vintage automobile. It was welcomed in legislatures, featured on the pitcher’s mound at a Toronto Blue Jays home game and presented to the Lt. Governor of Prince Edward Island by Anne of Green Gables.

It was welcomed by Premiers, First Nations Elders, retirees, veterans, athletes with disabilities, more school children than could be counted and in the Yukon, it was run through the Midnight Sun during one of the longest days of the year.

The Pace Group was responsible for pre-relay planning and coordination, developing relay routes, coordination of local events, managing local and national media and ensuring the baton arrived safely - and on time - by First Nations flotilla for the opening ceremonies of the games in Victoria.

Objectives:

Increase awareness of the Commonwealth Games by relaying the Queen’s Baton across Canada, with a safe arrival in Victoria, while providing as many opportunities for public participation as possible.

Outcomes:

The Queen’s Baton Relay visited every province and territory, attracted significant public and national media attention, and used creative means of transportation to emphasize Canada’s regions, cultures and geography.